Dubai
Dubai Holidays
Dubai is one the most popular of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for tourism and that’s little wonder given all that this cosmopolitan place has to offer. Its increase in popularity in the last few years has been unbelievable, changing from an occasionally used stop- over point convenient for shopping to a thriving full on tourist resort with plenty to do.
Dubai is one of the world’s most exciting and dynamic cities. It’s a remarkable oasis in the desert combining ultra-luxurious accommodation, sandy beaches, unbelievable duty-free shopping and the allure of traditional Arabic culture. The city is packed with man-made wonders, like the self-styled “Seven Star” Burj al-Arab built on a huge artificial island and costing a staggering $650 million to build.
Dubai is an Emirate and a world class city that is made for superlatives. From the man-made Palm Islands to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 meters high this place is exuberant, excessive and despite the global economic downturn, still seems to be going strong. It’s seemingly impossible to keep up with the constant changes in this great city. They say you need to come back to Dubai every six months to check what new amenities, hotels and shopping has been added since the last trip.
The UAE and Dubai isn’t all man-made wonders, retail therapy to the extreme and 4×4 thrashes through desert dunes though! The inhabitants of the Gulf States have had a long relationship with the Camel and prize racing beasts are very highly valued. Many of the seven species of marine turtles in the world can be seen in the waters of the UAE: the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the loggerhead turtle and (if you are fortunate) the huge leatherback turtle. The green and hawksbill turtles nest on beaches in the UAE as well as regularly feeding in UAE waters.
Hotels
Dubai Hotels
The hallmark of all Dubai hotels is luxury and service. Typical of the style and élan embodied in any hotel in this bustling and cosmopolitan city is the Iberotel Emirates Grand Hotel. Located in the heart of Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road, it’s minutes away from Dubai International Airport and conveniently situated for Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center and the world's largest shopping mall, The Dubai Mall. The hotel is a 50-storey tower set against Dubai’s ever changing skyline and features a world class all day dining restaurant on the 46th floor promising guests a taste of Middle Eastern style. Perched high on the 45th floor is a Spa with 13 luxurious treatment rooms that offers the ultimate pampering retreat within the vibrant city of Dubai.
Shopping in Dubai
Dubai: Retail Paradise
There are more outlets for more global brands in Dubai than almost anywhere else in the world. The Dubai Mall, as is ever the case in Dubai, the biggest of its kind in the world with 600 shops open now and 600 to follow. If it’s a shopping mall with the most expensive stores and brands you’re after, then it must be Wafi near the Creek. It’s in the shape of a pyramid and sphinx and houses Chanel and Escada as well as newcomers like Kitson. The flagship store is Salam with a wealth of prestige international brands.
Karama is the place for fake watches, handbags and clothing thar are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The famous Gold Souk is an area of small jewellery stores selling yellow gold on the edge of the Creek. It’s best to arrive in the late morning when the stores are less busy and be prepared for the typical Middle Eastern practice of haggling. Next door is the Spice Souk which sells excellent exotic spices like Iranian saffron at very good value prices.
The Mall of the Emirates is still a must, where you can shop or watch the skiing at the biggest indoor ski slope in the Middle East. It is also worth taking a 30 Minute taxi ride out of town to the Outlet Mall. It’s one million square feet of pure discount. Granted, it's last year’s models and not a great selection of sizes, but the prices are a fraction of the original.
There are two big sales promotion events in Dubai: Dubai Shopping Festival in the winter months and Dubai Summer Surprises in the summer. They are both pretty intense, but if you’re prepared to haggle, even in the upmarket boutiques, you will get some additional discount. Dubai is not the place for cheap bargains (with the possible exception of the Outlet Mall), but you will get well known and established brands and quality locally produced merchandise at prices that do represent outstandingly good value for money
Leisure Activities in Dubai
Sand, Sun and Fun In Dubai
There are a plethora of things to do in Dubai. Most hotels offer comprehensive facilities within their own buildings of grounds, but further afield the choice of activities is virtually limitless.
Water Theme Parks
You can get a day pass to the Water Park which is attached to the Atlantis Palm Resort. The main feature of the Park is a Pyramid-like structure called the Ziggurat, and from this there’s a choice of about five or six water activities, depending on how brave you feel! Freefall water chutes with a near vertical 90 foot slide or a lazy river where you sit in oversized donut rings and float down the river and through waterfalls.
Dune Bashing in Dubai
Four wheel drive safaris are popular where you are taken to the dunes and get thrown about a bit! Tyres are deflated for the mountains of sand while you drive up to the top of a very steep dune and take it in turns to descend. For a moment, you’ll just be hanging there, looking down a very steep slope and held by your seatbelt only, and then it’s down the dune very fast. Exciting and incredibly scary at the same time. You can combine driving around the dunes with a visit to a camel farm on the way back to the city.
Camel Racing
There are around 15 dedicated race tracks across the seven Emirates. The largest and best equipped is Nad Al Sheba just outside of Dubai. The race season runs from October to early April every year with races taking place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday and on national holidays. Partially to combat the illegal use of children as jockeys in these races, and partly because it’s such a cool idea, Camel races today use electronic, wireless-controlled robot jockeys. There are still some human riders, but progressively the robots are taking over. The devices are simply strapped to the camel’s back and controlled by their owners over a wireless radio link. These robots weigh only 4 kilograms (compared with the 45 kilogram weight of a jockey) so they’re easier on the Camel too!
Desert
Shopping
